ABSTRACT
Heat shock protein [HSP70] was used as a good biomarker for intoxication of different hazardous chemicals. The impact of common narcotic drugs [heroin and opium], in comparison with experimentally proven hepatotoxic agents [CCl[4], ethanol and iron] on the induction of HSP70 in liver of both rat and mice was assessed. Heroin proved to be the most potent inducer of liver tissue intoxication followed by CCl[4], iron overloaded with ferric hydroxide dextran complex [Fe-HDC], ethanol, and opium. This may be related to defense mechanism against the rapidly occurring cell damage or subsequent processes of liver tissue inflammation. This is an attempt to define the incidence and severity of liver disorders among a large number of drug addicts. The expression levels of HSP70 were measured using Western dot blot technique. The obtained data demonstrate specific but statistically different significant values [P< 0.05] of HSP70 induction levels with all studied hepatotoxic agents. Heroin was the most potent inducer of [HSP70] followed by CCl[4], Fe-HDC, ethanol, and then opium. The increased levels of HSP70 in the liver tissues may be attributed to antioxidant defense mechanism against liver cell damage. In conclusion: Heat shock protein [HSP70] is a biomarker for hepatic cell injury playing an important role in tissue protection against narcotic drugs and hepatotoxic agents